Estonian Articles

If you're trying to learn Estonian Articles you will find that there is no articles used in Estonian. The definite and indefinite articles don't exist in the way we know it in English. But you should still look at the examples below, because they show how Estonian deals with the absences of articles. Also don't forget to check the rest of our other lessons listed on Learn Estonian. Enjoy the rest of the lesson!

Estonian Articles

In English articles are words that combine with a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by the noun. Generally articles specify the grammatical definiteness of the noun. Examples are "the, a, and an". However that doesn't exist in Estonian. Here are some examples:

Grammar Tips:
Unlike English, there are no articles in Estonian
Mees (the man), poisid (the boys)
Naine (the woman), tüdrukud (the girls)

While we have (a / an / some) in English as indefinite articles, we can use mõni/ mõned (some) in Estonian.
In general, whenever a/an or some are used in English, you either use the noun only or the noun is preceded by "mõni" (singular) or "mõned" (plural) to say the equivalent in English. "Mõni" is followed by a noun in the singular, "mõned" is followed by a noun in the plural but both imply the plural.

Note that "mõni" / "mõned" takes the same case ending as the following noun:
mõnest sõbrast = about some friends
mõnedele sõpradele = to some friends
mõnest majast = from some houses
mõnedest majadest = from some houses

Here are some other examples:

English Articles

Estonian Articles

articles

artiklid

the

a

one

üks

some

mõned

few

vähe

the book

Raamat

the books

raamatud

a book

Raamat

one book

üks raamat

some books

mõned raamatud

few books

mõned raamatud

As you can see from the example above, the structure of no articles in Estonian takes a logical pattern.

List of Vocabulary in Estonian

Below is a list of vocabulary which should help you with your knowledge of Estonian. Try to practice but also memorizing this table will help you add very useful and important words to your Estonian vocabulary.

English Vocabulary

Estonian Vocabulary

Food

toit

almonds

mandlid

bread

leib

breakfast

hommikusöök

butter

või

candy

maiustused

cheese

juust

chicken

kanaliha

cumin

köömen

dessert

magustoit

dinner

õhtusöök

fish

kala

fruit

puuvili

ice cream

jäätis

lamb

lambaliha

lemon

sidrun

lunch

lõunasöök

meal

söök

meat

liha

oven

ahi

pepper

pipar

plants

taimed

pork

sealiha

salad

salat

salt

sool

sandwich

võileib

sausage

vorst

soup

supp

sugar

suhkur

supper

õhtueine

turkey

kalkun

apple

õun

banana

banaan

oranges

apelsinid

peaches

virsikud

peanut

maapähkel

pears

pirnid

pineapple

ananass

grapes

viinamarjad

strawberries

maasikad

vegetables

köögiviljad

carrot

porgand

corn

mais

cucumber

kurk

garlic

küüslauk

lettuce

lehtsalat

olives

oliivid

onions

sibulad

peppers

paprikad

potatoes

kartulid

pumpkin

kõrvits

beans

oad

tomatoes

tomatid

Definite and Indefinite Articles are not used in Estonian, but you still need to know how to create sentences without them. Once you're done with this lesson, you might want to check the rest of our Estonian lessons here: Learn Estonian. Don't forget to bookmark this page.